Colorado State University Athletics
Ram Football In 48 Hours
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 2, 2005
In just 48 short hours, the curtain rises on Colorado State University's 2005 football season. Sonny Lubick, in his 13th year at the helm, welcomes back more starters - 17 - than any team that he has put on the field.
Practice begins Thursday at 4 p.m. on the fields south of Moby Arena. For the first five days, the team will workout once daily under NCAA guidelines. Following that period, CSU will alternate staging workouts once or twice per day leading up to the team's opener Sept. 3 against the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Colorado State's five-game home schedule at newly-renovated Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium begins Sept. 24 against the University of Nevada on Ag Day. The home schedule also includes dates with Front Range rivals Air Force (Sept. 24) and Wyoming (Oct. 22) as well as two-time defending Mountain West Conference champion Utah (Oct. 8) and San Diego State (Nov. 12).
Here's a position-by-position look at the Rams as the team prepares for 2005:
Offense Quarterback Starters Returning: 1; Justin Holland; Starters Lost: 0 Holland, a senior-to-be in his first year as the team's starter, was on a record-setting pace by having thrown for 1,622 yards and six touchcdowns in five-plus games. He suffered a season-ending left ankle fracture that required surgery but returned to workouts in the spring. His replacement in 2004, true freshman Caleb Hanie started the next five games. Hanie led the Rams to three including a 30-7 win over arch-rival Wyoming in the school's annual battle for the Bronze Boot, his first career start. Backup Joey Kearney also saw action in 2004.
Runningback Starters Returning: 1; Jimmy Green; Starters Lost: 0 Green, a senior in 2005, was hampered early in the season by a nagging ankle injury, but started four of the team's final five games. He led the team in rushing while playing in only eight games. Sophomore Kyle Bell saw limited duty in 2004, and was impressive during the spring in battling Green for the top spot. Gartrell Johnson played in one game in 2004 and was injured, later earning a season of medical hardship eligibility and was solid during the spring.
Wide Receiver Starters Returning: 2; David Anderson, Dustin Osborn; Starters Lost: 0 Anderson, a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award presented to the nation's top receiver, had another outstanding season by catching 57 passes, ninth most in a season. Anderson, a senior, has caught 129 passes the past two seasons, most in school history over a similar span. He already has 10 100-yard receiving games, including four in 2004. Anderson begins his final season ranked among the school's career leaders in touchdown receptions (9th, 12); career receiving yards (4th, 2,413), and career receptions (5th, 137). He had his finest game against BYU by catching 12 passes for 232 yards - both figures second most in a game in school history. Osborn, a former walkon entering his junior season in 2005, was fourth on the team with 30 receptions and tied for team honors with three touchdown catches. Anderson started all 11 games, while Osborn was in for the opening snap 10 times. The Rams have a bevy of talented receivers behind the returning starters. Sophomore-to-be Johnny Walker was third ont he team with 35 catches and a pair of scores, while Damon Morton, Geroge Hill, Luke Roberts all saw extended action.
Tight End/H-Back Starters Returning: 1; Kory Sperry; Starters Lost: 1; Joel Dreessen Sperry, a true freshman in 2004 from Pueblo, Colo., started the final six games of the season following a season-ending injury to senior-to-be Matt Bartz. Bartz, a starter, caught three games in one-plus games in 2004 before being injured at USC. Bartz saw limited action during the spring. Sperry was fifth on the team with 15 receptions for a pair of scores in his first year of action.
Offensive Line Starters Returning: 4; Albert Bimper; Mike Brisiel; Josh Day; Clint Oldenburg; Starters Lost: 1; Erik Pears The Rams will return four starters in 2005, led by post-season honors candidate Mike Brisiel. For the past three years, he's been the team's starting weak tackle, having started 33 games in his career, 22 in a row. Brisiel and fellow senior Albert Bimper provide leadership and stability. Bimper started all 11 games at center, and in his first three years as a Ram has 32 career starts. Day started all 11 games in his sophomore season in 2004 at guard. The Rams' other starting guard in 10 of 11 games was Oldenburg, who converted from tight end in the summer months preceding the season. Both were consistent, dependable performers. Senior Brandon Alconcel moved inside after spending the past three seasons as a tight end/H-back. Newcomer Justin D'Arcy played well during the spring.
Special Teams Kicker Starters Returning: 0; Starters Lost: 1; Jeff Babcock Kevin Mark, a senior in 2005, has handled kickoffs he past two years and has seen reserve duty for point-after tries and field goals during his career..
Punter Starters Returning: 0; Starters Lost: 1; Jeff Babcock Ssophomore Jimmie Kaylor, averaged 43 yards in a reserve role in 2004 and has the inside track on the team's starting spot.
Defense Defensive End Starters Returning: 1; Terrance Carter; Starters Lost: 1; Patrick Goodpaster Carter started six games in 2004 as a junior, despite the remnants of a painful ankle injury suffered in August that limited his play during the spring. His backup, Jesse Nading, started four times as a redshirt freshman. Those two plus top reserve Bob Vomhof played extensively in 2004.
Defensive Tackle Starters Returning: 1; Blake Smith; Starters Lost: 1; Jonathan Simon Smith started 10 of 11 games, and played in all 11 as a redshirt freshman despite a painful ankle injury that nagged him the final four games. He missed most of the spring with a back ailment. Sophomore Erik Sandie and Senior Delroy Parke both played well in reserve roles in 2004. Parke missed the final game of the year with an arm injury. Sandie stepped up when Smith was injured. Matt Rupp, a freshman who played one play and was injured in 2004 and thus earned a year of medical hardship eligibility, moved inside during the spring. He played consistently well and should be a factor in 2005.
Linebacker Starters Returning: 3; Luke Adkins; Jahmal Hall; Courtney Jones; Starters Lost: 0 Colorado State's linebacking corps was decimated before and during the season by injuries. For instance, Hall started the first nine games but missed the final two with a knee injury. Jones was bothered by knee and neck problems throughout the year. Jones started nine of 11 games in 2004, and has a dozen career starts to his credit entering his senior year in2005. Adkins started the first 10 games of his sophomore year in 2004, missing the finale due to a knee injury and did not participate in spring drills. A former defensive end, he returned two interceptions for scores. Nathan Pauly, a sophomore in 2005, started three games, including two in the middle and one outside. John Nichols, like Pauly a sophomore for the upcoming season, saw reserve duty and played on special teams as did junior John Witt.
Secondary Starters Returning: 3; Brandon Cathy; Robert Herbert; Ben Stratton; Starters Lost: 1; Adam Lancisero Stratton and Herbert ranked among the team leaders in total tackles. Stratton, a three-year starter, will be a senior in 2005. A cornerback his first two seasons, he moved to his natural safety position in 2004, andwas second with 88 tackles. Cathy and Herbert each started all 11 games at cornerback. A pair of sophomores in 2004, they finished with 35 and 58 tackles, respectively. Herbert missed the spring with a leg injury but returns healthy in 2005.
